News from the Factory III

[Forrest Barber]

Re: News from the Factory III

Thank you for the unsolicited comments. I knew most of this and did not want to post until the source came forth, now I wish the rest of the former employees could post their stories too!
It is VERY windy here in NE Ohio , later today I will try to fly over the Funeral procession of William (Bill) Agnew, an Old-Timer who was an original member of the Taylorcraft Flying Club. Adios Amigo!!

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

I was widowed December, 2003. My late husband owned and piloted a 1946 J3 Piper Cub that he wooed me in, while we were dating (some 30 years ago). I contracted with Harry Ingram to restore this plane, as he told me he could have it completed within 8 months. I wanted to scatter my husband's ashes from it, as my final tribute to him. That was 32 months ago. My husband's ashes have been scattered but, not from his J3 Cub, as it's STILL not completed.

There IS no conspiracy......there are simply frustrated individuals that have pre-paid Harry Ingram for work that has never been completed. Speaking for myself, I have been lied to (over and over again) and as recently as last monday, October 9, was told (by Harry) that my plane would be completed and flying by Friday, October 13, 2006 (scheduled eviction date).

Call it a "God" thing but, Wednesday, October 11, I happened to have the article from Southern Aviator faxed to me by a friend. THAT was how I found out that my plane was NEVER going to be completed by Harry Ingram and Taylorcraft Aviation. I had the Cub removed from Harry's possession and the restoration will be completed by another company. As I live in Colorado, I can't see for myself just WHAT still needs to be done on my plane. I'm awaiting the estimate. My log books are still in the possession of Mr. Ingram, as they have not been updated by the IA inspecting the work done to date. Will I be starting from scratch? How many more dollars will I need to fork out to finish a job that has already been paid for in full? How many others have planes in Mr. Ingram's possession that don't even KNOW what's going on down there because they're still going along with the lies being told them?

Given that I was not able to use the Cub to scatter my husband's ashes and the fact that I am not, nor intend to become, a pilot......the Cub will be sold, when it is finally completed. Anyone out there interested? It's finally in the hands of a "reputable" company and WILL fly again, one day.

[VictorBravo]

Re: News from the Factory III

Sounds like someone located near the factory should be going to collect this lady's logbooks and get them back to her. If the airplane is no longer there, there should be no legitimate reason Harry would not give them back to this woman.

If it were me going to meet with him, I'd mention that "it is a federal offense to damage or DISABLE an aircraft..." and that withholding the logs is certainly a form of disabling an aircraft. This means a trip to FEDERAL court if the woman pursues it that far, and that would mean Harry has to pay another lawyer to go explain that to a judge over and above his other problems.

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

It's NOT that Harry won't give me the log books. It's that the man that currently has my plane needs to have what work that has been completed (to date) signed off by the guy that inspected and approved the work. Otherwise, it could need to go back down to the bare fuselage, like before when the IA in La Grange didn't sign it off before leaving Taylorcraft (same situation as Tom Garrick's plane). THAT would be very costly. I'm waiting to see if Harry pulls through on THIS promise. As of this morning (conversation with him on the phone), he was "personally" contacting the IA to update the log books.

I was in Brownsville the latter part of July and the workmanship on the Cub looked really good to me. I will give it to Harry...what he has done, is good work. It's just that he wouldn't complete it. I understand that Harry has a lot on his plate and bigger fish after him than I, however, enough is enough.

Call me gullable but I'm still hopeful that Harry will come through and my plane won't need to be totally redone. I don't know that I could handle THAT, again.

[CraigH]

Re: News from the Factory III

Call me gullable but I'm still hopeful that Harry will come through and my plane won't need to be totally redone. I don't know that I could handle THAT, again.

Take my advice, go down there and get your logbooks NOW!!!!!!! More than likely, whoever did the work on your plane isn't even employed by the factory anymore. After being lied to for so long, why in the heck would you believe anything that Harry is saying? It just blows my mind how people continue believe the lies that have been told just because Harry tells them what they WANT to hear. This crap has been going on for 3 years. Get your logs (while you can), cut your losses and move forward.

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

You're right, Craig. I'm on it.....the log books WILL be in the hands of the new mechanic/IA by this evening. Hopefully, they will be completed. Thought you all might like to see where it's at (restoration wise) as of the last time I saw it...guess it was June, not July. The last photo is one that Harry sent me...since that time, the wings have come off again because of some new air strut law/issue??? I quit asking what the "new" hold up was...I just wanted a date.

[CraigH]

Re: News from the Factory III

since that time, the wings have come off again because of some new air strut law/issue??? I quit asking what the "new" hold up was...I just wanted a date.

Not aware of any "new" lift strut AD's, the old one has been around since the 50's. If you're doing a restore, might as well have a set of sealed struts installed and avoid the repetitive inspections. Yourr new IA should be able to give you all the details.

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

Supposedly, they have them. Time will tell.

[heliplane2]

Re: News from the Factory III

Greetings, To the lady that owns this cub at the factory.
I was the IA that started to work on your aircraft when I worked there in Brownsville. I was in charge of the restoration project and was moved by your situation concerning your husband wishes and immediately began the project. When I was there, your aircraft was my one priority because i found out by researching the aircraft records how long the plane was in pieces. I'm sorry for not completing the work but I had to leave Harry due to too many legal issues with the FAA and civil lawsuits that the company was facing. My career was on the line and I could not risk it for Harry. Mr. Ingram would not order parts that I requested to work on your aircraft and was told to abandon the project! I saw the pictures today, your aircraft looks very nice, but is the work done right? Is it safe? After I left the factory, I was told by the employees in whom I trust that your aircraft was not assembled correctly, missing some parts and not safe to fly! Hopefully I'm wrong and everything is ok. Once again, I apologize for not being able to finish you aircraft. please E mail me at [email protected].

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

Thank you for your concern and your candidnous. There is no doubt in my mind that some corners were cut by Harry. However, the man in charge of restoring my plane, NOW, is on top of that. Every inch of that plane and all the workmanship will be gone over and signed off, again, by him. The engine was sent out for overhaul (to the tune of $14,600) and I have absolutely no concerns about it (the engine)...that's the biggy! Some of us have a conscious and I, personally, could not sell a plane that wasn't built correctly and 100% guaranteed air worthy. If, in the longrun, I can't afford to drop the $$ needed to make that happen, I'll sell it as a project.

I wish I'd have listened to Mr. Garrick and pulled my plane out when he did. Hind sight.....20/20. The saga goes on>>>>>>>

[Tom Garrick]

Re: News from the Factory III

I picked up the last of my parts from Harry last week. He could not give me $4100 worth of engine parts that he still owes me but he did gine me a set of wheeles and brakes that he took from someone elses airplane. If whoever ownes them can claim them I can give them to you if the police do not want them.

Tom G

[Ragwing nut]

Re: News from the Factory III

$14,600 to overhaul an A-65, wow. I hope it was built entirely out of NOS parts including the case and crank for that. I saw your cub when it was at Lagrange and noticed some issues when it was there, glad to here they are being addressed.

Mike

[CraigH]

Re: News from the Factory III

I picked up the last of my parts from Harry last week.

Tom - how many fuel tanks did your airplane have when you got it back?

[mulwyk]

Re: News from the Factory III

I have to admit that I was completely fooled by this whole Harry's "factory" thing. But I'd like to learn something:

In hindsight, what were the early signs that this was going to happen?

Bob Gustafson

[Jim Herpst]

Re: News from the Factory III

The first signs? I would say delay in my humble opinion. This leads to other things ......... Delay is caused generally by lack of $$ again in my humble opinion.